Leaf pickup rake

ABSTRACT

A leaf pickup tool. A stationary rake head is fixedly mounted to a rod. A movable rake head is pivotally mounted to the stationary rake head with movement controlled by means of a handle slidably mounted to the rod and connected to the movable rake head by a rigid member. A spring associated with the handle allows for positioning of the movable rake head relative to the stationary rake head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/252,306, filed Oct. 17, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of garden rakes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A variety of garden rakes have been devised for raking leaves and otherdebris on lawns, gardens and various fields. Once the leaves are rakedinto a pile, the leaves are typically deposited in a bag, container orother storage means. The leaves may be picked up with one's hands orraked onto a tarpaulin or sheet with the tarpaulin or sheet then beingmanually lifted and carried to the storage area. A further technique isto provide a rake having a type of device for trapping the leaves on therake with the rake then being moved to the storage area and openedallowing the leaves to fall therefrom. The latter technique is employedby the rake disclosed herein.

A number of U.S. patents have been granted on leaf pickup rakes.Typically, a pair of mutually opposed rakes mounted to a rod aremanipulated to move the rakes together trapping leaves therebetween.Another approach is to provide a member mounted to the rake handle thatwill move downwardly toward the rake tines thereby trapping leavestherebetween. A representative sample of these U.S. patents are asfollows: U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,966 issued to Kerry; U.S. Pat. No.3,095,682 issued to Pasquine; U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,536 issued toTolliver; U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,381 issued Crites; U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,038issued to Sipe; U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,827 issued to Hsu; U.S. Pat. No.6,336,314 issued to Crevier; U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,351 issued toFrankhouser; U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,671 issued to Gascon; U.S. Pat. No.2,504,943 issued to Zifferer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,448 issued to Blanco;U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,189 issued to Nelson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,869 issuedto Barrett; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,878 issued to Kalavitis. Thus, aknown technique is to mount a pair of mutually opposed rakes to thebottom of the rake handle. The tines of the rakes are offset and areforced by means of a spring to intertwine. Spring bias may be overcomeforcing the tines apart to receive leaves therebetween.

Frequently, the rake tines will retain leaves since the tines pierce theleaves. In those rakes that have mutually opposed tines urged together,it becomes difficult to remove the pierced leaves from the tines. Theuser must overcome the spring bias urging the tines together whilesimultaneously picking the pierced leaves from the tines. Disclosedherein is an improved pickup rake that in the preferred embodimentincludes a handle that automatically locks to the rake rod holding thetines in a spaced apart position allowing the user to then pick theleaves from the tines. In an alternate embodiment a pair of mutuallyopposed rakes are normally spaced apart. Thus, pierced leaves may bepicked off the tines and/or the rake may be shaken to remove the leaves.The alternate embodiment of the rake includes spring biasing to move thepair of rakes to an intermediate position trapping leaves therebetweenwithout the leaves being intertwined. A locking handle is furtherprovided holding the tines in an intertwined position for storage of therake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a rake comprising a rod and afirst rake head and a second rake head mounted to the rod and havingrespectively first tines and second tines. The first rake head isimmovably mounted to the rod whereas the second rake head is pivotallymounted to the rod. The second rake head has relative to the first rakehead an open position, an intermediate position, and a closed position.The second tines are spaced apart a first distance from the first tineswhen the second rake head is in the open position and spaced apart asecond distance from the second tines less than the first distance whenin the intermediate position. The second tines are intertwined with thefirst tines when the second rake head is in the closed position. Ahandle is slidably mounted to the rod and connected to the second rakehead moving together as a unit. The handle has a top position, a bottomposition and an in between position corresponding to the second rakebeing in the open position, the closed position, and the intermediateposition. A spring is positioned on the handle biasing the handle in alocked position on the rod limiting relative motion between the handleand the rod but being yieldable allowing the handle to be movedlengthwise along the rod to allow the handle to move the second rakehead to and from the open position, the intermediate position, and theclosed position. A control lever is movably mounted to the handle tocontrol the position of the handle relative to the rod.

It is as an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved pickup rake.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a leaf pickuprake having an open position to allow dislodgement of leaves resting onthe rake tines.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of an alternate embodiment of a leafpickup rake incorporating the present invention and shown in the openposition.

FIG. 2 is the same view as FIG. 1 except the mutually opposed rakes arepositioned in an intermediate position between the fully closed positionand the open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the leaf pickup rake in the openposition.

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3 only showing the rake in a fullyclosed position with the rake tines intertwined.

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 only showing the rake in anintermediate position between the open and closed position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 andviewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of a second alternate embodiment ofthe rake incorporating the present invention with the rake shown in theopen position.

FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 7 only showing the rake in theintermediate position and the handle fragmented to illustrate the innerstructure.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional enlarged view showing the handle in thelocked position.

FIG. 10 is the same view as FIG. 9 only showing the handle in theunlocked position.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10and viewed in the direction of the arrows showing the locking platerelative to the rake rod.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10and viewed in the direction of the arrows showing the control leverrelative to the rake rod.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment of therake incorporating the present invention with the rake shown in the openposition.

FIG. 14 is the same view as FIG. 13 only showing the rake in theintermediate position and the handle fragmented to illustrate the handleconstruction.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the leaf pickup rake of FIG. 13 onlyshowing the rake in a fully closed position with the rake tinesintertwined.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle for the rake ofFIG. 13 without the control lever mounted thereto.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the control lever that ismounted to the handle of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the firstalternate embodiment of the leaf pickup rake 20 incorporating thepresent invention. Rake 20 includes a rod 21 having a top end portion 36and a bottom end portion 30. A pair of rakes 22 and 23 are mounted torod 21. Rake 22 is fixedly mounted to the rod whereas rake 23 ispivotally mounted to rake 22 allowing rake 23 to move from an openposition (FIG. 1) to an intermediate position (FIG. 2). Further, rake 23may be moved from the intermediate position (FIG. 2) to a closedposition (FIG. 4) whereat the mutually opposed rake tines areintertwined.

A handle 25 is slidably mounted to rod 21 and has a passage extendingtherethrough to slidably receive the rod. The passage extending throughthe handle is of complementary shape to the cross section of the rod toensure for proper sliding motion. For example, in the event rod 21 has acylindrical cross section then the passage extending through the handleis cylindrical. As a further example, rod 21 may have a square crosssection that is slidably received by a complementary square passageextending through the handle. Alternative configurations are included inthe present invention.

A rigid member or rod 24 has a first end pivotally mounted by pin orfastener 38 to arm 37 extending outwardly from the main body of handle25. The opposite end of member 24 is pivotally mounted by pin 40 toupstanding bracket 39 fixedly mounted to the main body 60 (FIG. 5) ofrake 23.

A helical spring 26 has a first end mounted to and extending throughhole 43 provided in member 24 with hole 43 being located adjacent handle25. The opposite end 41 of the helical spring extends through hole 83provided in an outwardly extending flange formed in top end 29 of rake22.

Rake 22 includes a flat main body 50 (FIG. 3) with a plurality of tines51 cantileveredly mounted thereto. The distal ends 52 of each tine 51are bent at a right angle and extend toward rake 23 when the rake is inthe intermediate position (FIG. 2). Likewise, rake 23 (FIG. 5) includesa flat main body 60 having a plurality of tines 61 cantileveredlymounted thereto with the outer distal ends 62 formed at right angles andextending toward distal ends 52 of tines 51 when the rakes are in theintermediate position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5. Distal ends 52 and 62are spaced apart a distance 80 when the rakes are in the intermediateposition.

The longitudinal extending edges of each rake are formed at right anglesto the main bodies of the rakes. For example, rake 22 has alongitudinally extending side wall 63 extending along one side of mainbody 50 (FIG. 6 a) from the top end 29 (FIG. 1) of main body 50 to thelocation where the tines 51 are mounted. Similarly, the oppositeextending sidewall 64 (FIG. 6A) of main body 50 extends from top end 29to tines 51. Sidewalls 63 and 64 are positioned inwardly of thesidewalls 31 and 65 formed on rake 23. For example, wall 63 ispositioned within and adjacent sidewall 31 formed at a right angle withrespect to the rake main body 60. Similarly, side wall 64 of rake 22 ispositioned inwardly and adjacent sidewall 65 formed at a right anglewith respect to main body 60 of rake 23 (FIG. 6A).

Main body 50 of rake 22 is fixedly mounted to the bottom end portion 30(FIG. 1) of rod 21. Rod 21 extends between main body sidewalls 63 and 64(FIG. 6) and is secured thereto by any number of conventional means,such as threaded fasteners or pins. The proximal ends of walls 31 and 65(FIG. 6A) of main body 60 of rake 23 form a pair of ears pivotallymounted to sidewalls 64 and 63. For example, sidewall 31 includes aproximal end 32 (FIG. 1) forming an ear pivotally mounted by pin 33 tosidewall 63 of the stationary rake 22. Likewise, sidewall 65 includes aproximal end forming an ear or flange located adjacent sidewall 64 ofthe stationary rake 22 that is pivotally mounted by means of a pin. Theproximal end 29 of sidewall 63 includes an ear having a hole 83 throughwhich end 41 of helical spring 26 extends.

In order to operate rake 20, handle 25 is grasped and pulled upwardlytowards the top end 36 of rod 21. Since rigid member 24 is pivotallyconnected to the handle and rake 23, the handle along with member 24 andrake 23 move as a unit causing rake 23 to move to the open positiondepicted in FIG. 1 forming a leaf receiving cavity 85 with the distalends of rakes 22 and 23 spaced apart a first distance 86. The leaves maythen be forced into cavity 85 with handle 25 then being moved away fromtop end 36. Helical spring 26 urges handle 25 away from the top end ofthe rod since it is connected between the stationary rake 22 and the topend of rigid member 24. Eventually, leaves will be trapped betweenstationary rake 22 and movable rake 23. The spring urges the rakes tohold the leaves therebetween. Spring 26 is operable to continue to applybias to handle 25 until the rakes are in the intermediate positiondepicted in FIG. 5 at which time the spring becomes slack or limpthereby no longer exerting a spring bias. Once the leaves are trappedbetween the stationary and movable rake, the rake may be carried to aleaf storage area with the handle then being moved towards the top endof the rod allowing the leaves to fall from the leaf cavity. The processmay then be repeated.

When the rake is no longer in use and is to be stored, the movable rakeis moved adjacent the stationary rake. The tines of rake 22 are offsetfrom the tines of rake 23 thereby allowing the tines of rake 22 tointertwine with the tines of rake 23 when the rake is in the closedposition as depicted in FIG. 4. In the closed position of FIG. 4, spring26 does not exert a spring bias and is limp or is slack.

A spring biased depressible button 70 is mounted to rod 21 and isextendable through a hole 88 provided in the bottom end of handle 25.Button 70 is of conventional design and includes a spring located withinthe rod that normally urges the top end of button 70 outwardly. Thebutton may be depressed in order to be able to move the handle over thebutton until the button extends outward through hole 88. Button 70 islocated so as to position the handle to cause the stationary rake andmovable rake to be in the closed and intertwined position of FIG. 4.

In many cases, distal ends 52 and 62 of tines 51 and 61 will pierceleaves thereby causing the leaves to be held by the tines even if thestationary and movable rake are fully opened to the position depicted inFIG. 1. In order to remove the leaves, while the rakes are positioned inthe open position of FIG. 1, it is necessary to hold handle 25 relativeto rod 21 in the upper position against the bias of spring 26 while atthe same time the leaves are manually pulled from the tine distal ends.Thus, there is provided an intermediate position of the movable rake andstationary rake as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5. The intermediate positionof the rake is located between the closed position of FIG. 4 and theopen position of FIG. 1. In the intermediate position, spring 26 doesnot exert a spring bias on handle 25 and is slack or limp. In such astate, the spring is in a relaxed condition. Thus, the user does nothave to overcome the bias of spring 26 when the rake is in theintermediate position and may simply reach towards the leaves upon thetine distal ends and remove the leaves therefrom. The rake thereforesaves time and is easier to use.

In order to move the stationary and movable rake from the intermediateposition of FIG. 5 to the closed position of FIG. 4, handle 25 mustmanually be pushed towards the bottom end of the rod without any biasfrom the spring being exerted. The spacing of the distance 80 betweenopposite distal ends of the rakes in the intermediate position is lessthan the distance 86 between distal ends of the rakes when the rakes arein the open position.

In order to use rake 20 to rake leaves and debris, the rake is moved tothe closed position depicted in FIG. 4. The rake is moved across theground with the tines of the stationary rake 22 being used to gather theleaves. Handle 25 is then pulled towards the top end of rod 21 causingthe movable rake 23 to open. The rake can then be placed over the debrispile with the handle 25 then being moved away from the top end 36 of therake causing the movable rake 23 to move towards the stationary rake 22holding the yard debris until it is ready to be released over a storagearea.

There are many advantages resulting from the subject invention. A rakeand a pickup tool is provided in a single device. Further, debris may bepicked up while the tension spring allows the debris to be held in placesince the rakes 22 and 23 are urged to hold the debris. In addition,leaves may be removed from the tines when the rake is in theintermediate position without a requirement that the spring bias beovercome. When the rakes are in the intermediate position of FIG. 5,leaves and debris move from between the rakes.

The second alternate embodiment of the rake is shown in the openposition in FIG. 7 and in the intermediate position in FIG. 8. Rake 120includes a rod 121 having a first rake head 122 fixedly mounted to thebottom end thereof with a movable rake head 123 pivotally mounted to thefirst rake head in a manner identical to described and shown herein forrake 20. Likewise, a rigid member 124 has a bottom end pivotally mountedto an upstanding flange 139 fixed mounted to rake head 123 while the topend of member 124 is pivotally mounted to handle 125 as previouslydescribed and shown for rake 20. Rake heads 122 and 123 are identicallyconfigured and shaped as described and shown for rake heads 22 and 23.That is, each rake head has a main body with a plurality of tinescantileveredly mounted thereto with the distal ends of rake head 122pointed toward and interspaced between the mutually facing distal endsof the tines of rake head 123 when the rake heads are in theintermediate position of FIG. 8.

Handle 125 is constructed different from handle 25. Further, spring 26is not utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 7. Handle 125 (FIG. 9)includes a main body having a central passage 126 extending therethroughbeing complementary in shape to the outside surface of rod 121 with therod extending through passage 126. Passage 126 is enlarged at the end127 closest to the rake heads forming a spring cavity 128 in which ahelical spring 129 is located extending around rod 121. Cavity 128includes a side recess 130 formed in arm 131 extending laterally fromthe main body of the handle.

A position control lever 132 has a proximal end 133 pivotally mounted toarm 131 with the lever being positioned within recess 130 and cavity128. The distal end 134 of lever 132 extends outwardly from cavity 128through slot 135 formed in handle 125. Lever 132 includes a hole 160(FIG. 12) that is oversized relative to rod 121. Rod 121 extends throughhole 160. The lever does not contact rod 121 when it is in either theposition corresponding to when plate 140 is locked (FIG. 9) or whenplate 140 is unlocked (FIG. 10).

A release and locking plate 140 has a main body with a hole 141 (FIG.11) through which rod 121 extends. Plate 140 is positioned within cavity128 and has a reduced width pivot finger 142 positioned within recess130. Finger 142 is positioned between and adjacent the side wall 151(FIG. 10) of arm 131 and molded pin 152 extending across recess 130.Plate 140 is pivotable about the end of finger 142 from a position (FIG.10) perpendicularly arranged relative to the longitudinal centerline ofrod 121 to a position (FIG. 9) whereat the plate is skewed relative tothe longitudinal centerline of rod 121. Plate 140 is located between end153 of spring 129 and the main body of lever 132 and is movable back andforth between the locked position (FIG. 9) to the unlocked position(FIG. 10). Hole 141 (FIG. 11) is oversized relative to rod 121. Forexample, if rod 121 is cylindrical, then hole 141 is circular with aninside diameter greater than the outside diameter of rod 121. Thus, whenplate 140 is perpendicular (FIG. 10) to rod 121, the plate does notinterfere with rod 121 allowing handle 125 to freely slide to anyposition along the length of rod 121 whereas when the plate is in theskewed position (FIG. 9), plate 140 is in the locked positioninterferingly contacting rod 121 and preventing relative motion betweenthe handle 125 and rod 121.

In order to move rake head 123 relative to rake head 122, the distal end134 of finger 132 is pulled back against spring 129 causing plate 140 tomove from the locked position of FIG. 9 to the unlocked position of FIG.10 thereby allowing the handle to be moved to the desired location alongthe length of rod 121 to control the spacing of rake head 123 relativeto rake head 122. When the desired position is reached, finger 132 isreleased with spring 129 forcing plate 140 to assume the skewed positionlocking the handle and rake head 123 in place. Rake heads 122 and 123may be moved to the closed position (FIG. 4) depicted for rake 20 bymoving handle 125 to the closest position possible relative to the rakeheads.

The preferred embodiment of the rake is shown in the open position inFIG. 13, in the intermediate position in FIG. 14 and the closed positionin FIG. 15. Rake 220 includes a rod 221 having a first rake head 222fixedly mounted to the bottom end thereof with a movable rake head 223pivotally mounted to the first rake head in a manner identical todescribe and shown for the other rakes disclosed herein. A rigid member224 has a bottom end pivotally mounted to an upstanding flange 239fixedly mounted to rake head 223 while the top end of member 224 ispivotally mounted to handle 225. Rake heads 222 and 223 are identicallyconfigured and shaped as described and shown for the other rake headsdisclosed herein. That is, each rake head has a main body with aplurality of tines cantileveredly mounted thereto with the distal endsof rake head 222 pointed toward and spaced between the mutually facingdistal ends of the tines of rake head 223 when the heads are in theintermediate position of FIG. 14.

Handle 225 is constructed different from handles 25 and 125. Handle 225(FIG. 16) has a pair of spaced apart flanges 240 and 241 between whichthe top end of member 224 extends and is pivotally mounted thereto by apin or other fastening device. Flanges 240 and 241 extend from thebottom of handle 225 as viewed in FIG. 16, whereas a second pair offlanges 242 and 243 extend upwardly as viewed in FIG. 16. Flanges 242and 243 are spaced apart to pivotally receive the main body of controllever 244.

The main body of handle 225 (FIG. 16) has a passage 244 extendingthrough the length thereof and is complimentary in shape to the outsidesurface of handle 221. Handle 225 includes a pair of opposed flatsurfaces 245 and 246 which extend the length of passage 244. Rod 221likewise has a pair of outwardly facing flat surfaces to complimentaryreceive surfaces 245 and 246. Thus, as the handle is slidably movedalong the length of the rod, the handle is prevented from rotating onthe rod thereby maintaining the alignment of rod 224 extending betweenmovable rake head 223 and handle 225.

Control lever 244 (FIG. 17) has an elongated shape and is pivotallymounted atop handle 225. Lever 244 extends between flanges 242 and 243with a pin or other fastening device extending through hole 250 of thelever and then into flanges 242 and 243 pivotally mounting the lever tothe handle. A downwardly opening blind hole 251 in the main body of thelever receives the top portion of a helical spring 252 that extendsdownwardly into a blind hole 248 (FIG. 16) of handle 225. A rubberstopper 255 is fixedly mounted to finger 254 that extends downwardlyfrom end 253 of the lever. Hole 250 is located between end 253 andspring 252. The lever pivot axis extends through hole 250. Thus, spring252 urges the lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 17causing the rubber stopper 255 to frictionally engage the upper flatsurface of rod 221 releasably holding the handle in place and limitingrelative motion between the handle and rod 221. A depression or hole 270(FIG. 14) is located in the upwardly facing flat surface of rod 221 andis positioned along the length of rod 221 corresponding to the locationof stopper 255 when the rake heads are in the closed position (FIG. 15)locking the handle in place.

In operation, end 256 of the lever is pushed downwardly by squeezing thelever toward the handle thereby moving stopper 255 apart from rod 221and allowing the handle to be slidably moved along the length of rod 221to the desired open position (FIG. 13), the intermediate position (FIG.14) or the closed position (FIG. 15). Once the movable rake head 223 hasbeen located the desired distance relative to the stationary rake head222, the lever 244 may be released thereby forcing stopper 255 againstthe upwardly facing flat surface of the rake rod 221 securing themovable rake head in position relative to the stationary rake head. Aparticular advantage of the rake shown in FIG. 13 is that it will standin an erect position when the rake heads are in contact with the groundor other supporting surface with the rake heads spread apart.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinvention are desired to be protected.

1. A rake comprising: a rod; a first rake and a second rake mounted tosaid rod and having respectively first tines and second tines, saidfirst rake immovably mounted to said rod whereas said second rake ispivotally mounted to said rod, said second rake having relative to saidfirst rake an open position, an intermediate position and a closedposition, said second tines spaced apart a first distance from saidfirst tines when said second rake is in said open position and spacedapart a second distance from said second tines less than said firstdistance when in said intermediate position, said second tines areintertwined with said first tines when said second rake is in saidclosed position; a handle slidably mounted to said rod and connected tosaid second rake moving together as a unit, said handle having a topposition, a bottom position and an in between position corresponding tosaid second rake being in said open position, said closed position, andsaid intermediate position; a control lever movably mounted to saidhandle to control the position of said handle relative to said rod, saidlever having a first position and a second position and a portioncontacting said rod when said handle is in said first position andspaced apart from said rod when said handle is in said second position;and; a spring biasing said control lever and handle in a locked positionon said rod with said portion is in said first position limitingrelative motion between said handle and said rod but being yieldableallowing said handle to be moved lengthwise along said rod when saidportion is in said second position to allow said handle to move saidsecond rake to and from said open position, said intermediate position,and said closed position; and,
 2. The rake of claim 1 and furthercomprising: a rigid member connected to and extending between saidhandle and said second rake to cause said handle and second rake to moveas a unit.
 3. The rake of claim 2 wherein: said rigid member ispivotally connected to said handle and pivotally connected to saidsecond rake.
 4. The rake of claim 3 wherein: said handle includes anupstanding flange having said control lever pivotally mounted theretoabout a pivot axis with said axis being located between said portion andsaid spring.
 5. The rake of claim 4 wherein: said spring extends againstsaid handle and said rod urging said control lever to pivot about saidaxis.
 6. The rake of claim 5 wherein: said handle has a passage throughwhich said rod extends, said rod and said handle have complementarymating surfaces allowing said handle to slidably move on said handlewhile limiting rotation of said handle relative to said rod.
 7. The rakeof claim 6 wherein: said rod includes an outwardly facing surfacematable with said portion to limit relative motion between said handleand said rod.
 8. The rake of claim 7 and further comprising: a stoppermounted to said portion frictionally engaging said outwardly facingsurface of said rod when said control lever is in said first position.9. A rake for raking and picking up leaves comprising: a rod forgrasping and holding; a pair of mutually opposed rakes mounted to saidrod with said rakes movably mounted relative to each other to allow saidrakes to move apart to an open position forming a cavity to receiveleaves and to then move toward each other to an intermediate position tohold said leaves therebetween, said rakes further movable from saidintermediate position to a closed position wherein said rakes areintertwined; a handle slidably mounted on said rod and connected to oneof said rakes moving together as a unit, said handle having a topposition, a bottom position and an in between position corresponding tosaid one rake being in said open position, said closed position, andsaid intermediate position; control means connected to said handle andone of said rakes, said control means including a pivot lever and aspring, said spring positioned relative to said handle biasing saidlever in a locked position relative to said rod limiting relative motionbetween said handle and said rod but being yieldable allowing said leverto be pivoted away from said rod and said handle to be moved lengthwisealong said rod and to move one of said rakes to and from said openposition, said intermediate position, and said closed position.
 10. Therake of claim 9 and further comprising: a rigid member connected to andextending between said handle and said rakes to cause said handle andone of said rakes to move as a unit.
 11. The rake of claim 10 whereinsaid rigid member is pivotally connected to said handle and pivotallyconnected to one of said rakes.
 12. A rake comprising: a rod; a firstrake head immovably mounted to said rod; a second rake head movablymounted to said rod and having a open position and a closed positionrelative to said first rake head, said first rake head and said secondrake head having mutually opposed tines that intertwine when said secondrake head is in said closed position; a handle slidably mounted to saidrod and having a top position and a bottom position corresponding towhen said second rake head is in said open position and said closedposition; a device connecting said handle to said second rake head sosaid second rake head moves in unison with said handle; a control levermovably mounted on said handle and having a portion frictionallyengaging said rod limiting relative motion between said handle and saidrod but movable apart from said rod to allow said handle to slide onsaid rod between said top position and said bottom position, saidcontrol lever has a first end portion and a second end portion and ispivotally mounted therebetween to said handle; and a spring engagingsaid first end portion and said handle to normally urge said second endportion toward said rod but yieldable to allow said first end portion tomove toward said rod and said second end portion to move away from saidrod.
 13. The rake of claim 12 and further comprising: a stopper mountedto said second end portion to engage a depression in said rod when saidhandle is in said bottom position locking said second rake head in saidclosed position.